BIOSKETCH Dr December Mpanza is an Occupational Therapist joined Academia at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2013 after working at a rural district hospital of KwaZulu Natal, namely Bethesda. At this hospital, Mr Mpanza served as a head of Occupational Therapy department, where he made a valuable contribution in development and provision of the occupational therapy services within the hospital and community setting. During this time Mr Mpanza worked in collaboration with a number of health and disability related organisations such as Umthombo Youth Development Bursary Scheme, Khanya Africa (NGO), Bethesda Health Care Christian Fellowship, UMkhanyakude Municipality Disability Forum, Provincial Executive Committee of HOSPERSA and Local Disability Committee.Mr Mpanza completed Master of Occupational Therapy at UKZN in 2014 and is currently pursuing a PhD in public health Medicine focusing on developing an aftercare model for substance use disorders in a rural context of South Africa. He lectures mainly in Occupational Therapy discipline. He also provides Occupational Therapy intervention for the First Episode Psychosis Clinic at King Edward Hospital, a research project in collaboration with UKZN Psychiatry Department. As part of community engagement, he is an executive board member for the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) Durban.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Occupational Therapy
Public Health,
Health Systems Research,
Mental Health-psychiatry, addictions, and substance use disorders
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
Mpanza, D. M., Govender, P., & Voce, A. (2021). Aftercare services to people with substance use disorders: analysis of South African policy. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 28(2), 138-155 https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2020.1742661
Mottay, N., Govender, P., & Mpanza, D. (2020). The use of the ICAM Splint Programme in Zone IV to VII Extensor Tendon Repairs: Patient outcomes and clinician experiences in a specialised hand unit in SA. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 50(2), 23-34. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2020/vol50no2a4
Govender, R., Govender, P., & Mpanza, D. (2019). Medical Incapacity Management in the South African private industrial sector: The role of the occupational therapist. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49(3), 31-37. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2019/vol49n3a6
Govender, P., Mpanza, D. M., Carey, T., Jiyane, K., Andrews, B., & Mashele, S. (2017). Exploring cultural competence amongst OT students. Occupational Therapy International, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2179781
Mpanza, D. M., & Govender, P. (2017). Rural realities in service provision for substance abuse: a qualitative study in uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. South African Family Practice, 59(3), 110-115. https://doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2016.127223
Mpanza, D.M., Govender, P. & Voce, A. Perspectives of service providers on aftercare service provision for persons with substance use disorders at a Rural District in South Africa. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy17, 60 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-022-00471-5
Mkhize, P. Z., Phehlukwayo, S. M., & Mpanza, D. M. (2022). Health seeking pathways for stroke survivors in a rural setting: Optimising early intervention for stroke rehabilitation in occupational therapy. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52(1), 24-33 http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2022/vol52n1a4
