Mrs. Marica Botha

Marica Botha is a South African occupational therapy researcher whose work centers on early childhood development, sensory integration, and workforce wellbeing within health and educational contexts. Her scholarship reflects a strong engagement with contextually relevant practice, particularly within South Africa, and demonstrates a commitment to strengthening evidence-based occupational therapy across diverse socioeconomic settings.

Her research explores disparities in early childhood environments, including comparative analyses of outdoor play resources in socioeconomic contexts, highlighting structural inequalities that influence developmental opportunities. She has also examined the cultural and contextual validity of standardized sensory assessment tools for South African infants, contributing to critical discussions on assessment adaptation and responsible clinical use.

In addition, her work addresses occupational therapist wellbeing, with studies on burnout, person–environment fit, and workplace stress among early career practitioners, including during the COVID-19 lockdown. Based on a limited but focused body of publications, her contributions demonstrate expertise in pediatric practice, professional sustainability, and the interaction between environment and occupational performance.