Jessica M. Perkins

Jessica M. Perkins
Jessica Perkins is a Doctoral Candidate in Health Policy – Medical Sociology at Harvard University. Previously, she received an M.S. in Population and International Health from Harvard. As part of the Human Nature Lab, Jessica currently directs a social network study using novel methodology to measure connections among 2,000 people in rural villages in Southwest Uganda. Her research investigates how individual network positions and overall structure are associated with a variety of health outcomes including intimate partner violence, alcohol use, food insecurity, depression, marital quality, gender roles, and HIV outcomes and beliefs. She is also interested in exploring the importance of actual versus perceived social norms on individual behaviors and attitudes. In the future, Jessica hopes to utilize such networks and norms information to develop, improve, and evaluate RCTs and interventions in developing countries. Jessica is also involved in research projects on social networks and bullying among UK youth and social capital and medication adherence as part of an RCT in urban Peru.
Recent Publications
- “Social network correlates of free and purchased insecticide-treated bed nets in rural Uganda,” Malar J, Nov 2022
- “Food insecurity, social networks and symptoms of depression among men and women in rural Uganda: a cross-sectional, population-based study,” Public Health Nutrition, Oct 2019
- “Social Network Correlates of IPV Acceptance in Rural Honduras and Rural Uganda,” SSM Population Health, Feb 2018