BIOSKETCH
Debbie Fewster is a senior lecturer in the Occupational Therapy department at UKZN. She has a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (UDW), Masters of Philosophy in Group Therapy (UKZN) and a PhD in Occupational Therapy (UKZN). She joined UKZN in 2013 after 18 years in clinical practice including psychiatry, pediatrics and neuro rehabilitation. She has published in a number of journals and co-authored a chapter in Occupational Therapies without Borders, 2nd Edition. Debbie has presented locally and internationally on her research. She was the recipient of the INSAR/Autism Speaks Emerging Researchers’ Award in 2017. She was a team member of a development group developing a package of rehabilitation for individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities as part of a World Health Organisation initiative. Alongside her research interests, Debbie has a passion for teaching occupational therapy and mentoring students, both undergraduate and postgraduate to reach their full potential.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- All areas of Occupational therapy with a special interest in mental health, paediatrics and caregiver well-being. Heath professions education
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
- Fewster, D., & Gurayah, T.. (2015). First port of call: facing the parents of autism spectrum disorder. South African Family Practice, 57(1), 31–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2014.995917
- Fewster, D. L., Govender, P., & Uys, C. J.. (2019). Quality of life interventions for primary caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review. Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 31(2), 139–159. https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2019.1659146
- Reddy, Gwen, Fewster, Deborah L, & Gurayah, Thavanesi. (2019). Parents’ voices: experiences and coping as a parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49(1), 43-50. https://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2019/vol49n1a7
- Davids, E. L., Adams Tucker, L., Wambua, G. N., Fewster, D. L., Schlebusch, L., Karrim, S. B., Attia, M., Nyoni, J., Bayouh, F. G., Kuteesa, H., Brahim, T., Hoogenhout, M., Moussa Kahloul, R. B., Jearey-Graham, N., Gobie, H. B., & Nalugya, J. S.. (2019). Child and adolescent mental health in Africa: A qualitative analysis of the perspectives of emerging mental health clinicians and researchers using an online platform. Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 31(2), 93–107. https://doi.org/10.2989/17280583.2019.1659145
- Fewster, D. L., Uys, C. J & Govender, P. (2020). Interventions for Primary Caregivers of Children with Autism SpectrumDisorder: A cross-sectional study of current practices of stakeholders in South. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 50 (1): 41-48. Africa DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2020/vol50no1a7
- Reddy, G., Gurayah, T., & Fewster, D. L. (2026). Siblings’ Lived Realities of Autism Spectrum Disorder. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56(2), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2026/vol56no2a8
