BIOSKETCH
Dr Debbie Fewster joined the UKZN OT team in 2013 after 18 years in clinical practice including psychiatry, paediatrics and neurorehabilitation. She completed her MPhil in Group Therapy in 2014, specialising in autism and caregivers. She has published in the South African Family Practice Journal, SAJOT, Journal of Child & Adolescent Mental Health and co-authored a chapter in Occupational Therapies without Borders, 2nd Edition. Debbie is a PHD candidate who has presented locally and internationally on her research. She was the recipient of an INSAR/Autism Speaks Emerging Researchers’ Award in 2017 which has allowed her to collaborate with other researchers in Africa. She has been a team member of a developmentl group developing a package of rehabilitation for individuals with ASD. This is a World Health Organisation initiative. Furthermore she is part of national and international collaborations towards further research into ASD and other mental health topics. 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
https://youtu.be/Vy845_ILy7g
- Mental health,
- Child and adolescent psychiatry,
- Occupational therapy,
- Teaching and learning
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
