Degrees Held
- PhD (Psychology), University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2017 – Thesis: Positive psychological resources and stressors of nurses working in a National Health Insurance (NHI) pilot site
- Master of Social Science (Industrial Psychology), University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2012
- Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych), University of Namibia, 2010
- Postdoctoral Fellowship (DRILL – Developing Research Innovation, Localisation and Leadership), Mental Health Track, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2019–2022
Research Interestes
- Occupational health psychology, workplace wellbeing and psychological safety
- Healthcare workforce wellbeing, with a focus on nurses and frontline health workers
- Psychological Capital and positive psychological resources in the workplace
- Global mental health: task-sharing and collaborative care models for integrating mental health into primary healthcare in low- and middle-income countries
- Health systems strengthening, person-centred care, and organisational learning in maternal and newborn health services
- Community-engaged mental health workforce development in under-resourced South African settings
- Student success, epistemic access, and digital transformation of teaching and learning in higher education
Teaching Interests
- Industrial and Organisational Psychology (Organisational Behaviour; Work, Health and Ergonomics)
- Psychological Assessment and psychometrics
- Research Methodology and postgraduate research writing
- Community Interventions for Professional Psychology Practice
- Curriculum development, decolonial pedagogies, and technology-enhanced learning
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Chapters in Books
Journal Articles
- Zani, B., Fairall, L., Petersen, I., Folb, N., Bhana, A., Thornicroft, G., Hanass-Hancock, J., Selohilwe, O., Petrus, R., … & Bachmann, M. (2026). Sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with viral load non-suppression and body mass index in adults with depression symptoms receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa. PLoS One, 21(2), e0329990. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329990
- Doherty, T., Petrus, R., Land, S., Horwood, C., Filippi, V., Haskins, L., … & John, V. M. (2025). Strengthening teamwork and respect (STAR) in maternity units: developing a health system intervention in South Africa. Global Health Action, 18(1), 2440982. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2440982
- Horwood, C., Haskins, L., Filippi, V., Penn-Kekana, L., Manda, S., Mapumulo, S., Luthuli, S., Petrus, R., & Doherty, T. (2025). Organisational learning culture in maternity units: A mixed-method study in rural district hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. SSM – Health Systems, 5, 100081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmhs.2025.100081
- Zani, B., Fairall, L., Petersen, I., Folb, N., Bhana, A., Hanass-Hancock, J., Selohilwe, O., Petrus, R., … & Thornicroft, G. (2025). Effectiveness of a task-sharing collaborative care model for the detection and management of depression among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in primary care facilities in South Africa: A pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 370, 499–510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.10.061
- Motlohi, N. F., Mensah, K. B., Padayachee, N., Petrus, R., Alqifari, S. F., & Bangalee, V. (2025). A multicenter cross-sectional survey of the role of community pharmacists, attitudes, and perceptions in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases. PLoS One, 20(2), e0314487. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314487
- Motlohi, N. F., Mensah, K. B., Padayachee, N., Petrus, R., & Bangalee, V. (2024). The role of Lesotho community pharmacists in preventing and controlling cardiovascular diseases: The perceived facilitators and barriers. PLoS One, 19(4), e0301525. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301525
- Ackerman, D., Petrus, R., & Petersen, I. (2024). Determining predictors of psychological wellbeing among nurses in NHI pilot clinics in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District. Social Sciences and Education Research Review, 11(1), 363–370.
- Motlohi, N. F., Wiafe, E., Mensah, K. B., Padayachee, N., Petrus, R., & Bangalee, V. (2023). A systematic review of the role of community pharmacists in the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases: the perceptions of patients. Systematic Reviews, 12(1), 160. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02338-7
- Singh, U., Naidoo, M., Mtapuri, O., Petrus, R., Gibson, S., & Arek-Bawa, O. (2023). Investigating online versus in-person learning on student performance. Progressio, 44.
- Teeluck, S., Petrus, R., Moodley, R., & Bangalee, V. (2023). Exploring the perceptions community pharmacists have towards the COVID-19 vaccine using a qualitative approach (preprint – BMC Health Services Research).
- Petersen, I., Selohilwe, O., Georgeu-Pepper, D., Ras, C. J., Zani, B., Petrus, R., Anderson, L., Mntambo, N., Kathree, T., Bhana, A., & Thornicroft, G. (2022). A collaborative care package for depression comorbid with chronic physical conditions in South Africa. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 1465. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08874-7
- Nkhoma, K. B., Cook, A., Giusti, A., Farrant, L., Petrus, R., Petersen, I., … & Harding, R. (2022). A systematic review of impact of person-centred interventions for serious physical illness in terms of outcomes and costs. BMJ Open, 12(7), e054386. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054386
- Seward, N., Hanlon, C., Abdella, A., Abrahams, Z., Alem, A., Araya, R., … & Prince, M. (2022). HeAlth System StrEngThening in four sub-Saharan African countries (ASSET) to achieve high-quality, evidence-informed surgical, maternal and newborn, and primary care: protocol for pre-implementation phase studies. Global Health Action, 15(1), 1987044. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2021.1987044
- Janse van Rensburg, A., Kathree, T., Breuer, E., Selohilwe, O., Mntambo, N., Petrus, R., … & Petersen, I. (2021). Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of implementation outcomes in an integrated mental healthcare trial in South Africa. Global Health Action, 14(1), 1940761. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2021.1940761
- Petersen, I., Fairall, L., Zani, B., Bhana, A., Lombard, C., Folb, N., Selohilwe, O., Georgeu-Pepper, D., Petrus, R., Mntambo, N., … & Lund, C. (2021). Effectiveness of a task-sharing collaborative care model for identification and management of depressive symptoms in patients with hypertension attending public sector primary care clinics in South Africa: pragmatic parallel cluster randomized controlled trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 282, 112–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.123
- Upadhaya, N., Jordans, M. J., Adhikari, R. P., Gurung, D., Petrus, R., Petersen, I., & Komproe, I. H. (2020). Evaluating the integration of chronic care elements in primary health care for people with mental illness: a longitudinal study in Nepal conducted among primary health care workers. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 632. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05491-0
- Giusti, A., Nkhoma, K., Petrus, R., Petersen, I., Gwyther, L., Farrant, L., … & Harding, R. (2020). The empirical evidence underpinning the concept and practice of person-centred care for serious illness: a systematic review. BMJ Global Health, 5(12), e003330. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003330
- Petersen, I., van Rensburg, A., Kigozi, F., Semrau, M., Hanlon, C., Abdulmalik, J., Kola, L., Fekadu, A., Gureje, O., Gurung, D., Jordans, M., Mntambo, N., Mugisha, J., Muke, S., Petrus, R., Shidhaye, R., Ssebunnya, J., Tekola, B., Upadhaya, N., Patel, V., Lund, C., & Thornicroft, G. (2019). Scaling up integrated primary mental health in six low- and middle-income countries: obstacles, synergies and implications for systems reform. BJPsych Open, 5(5), e69. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2019.7
- Fairall, L., Petersen, I., Zani, B., Folb, N., Georgeu-Pepper, D., Selohilwe, O., Petrus, R., … & CobALT Research Team. (2018). Collaborative care for the detection and management of depression among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa: study protocol for the CobALT randomised controlled trial. Trials, 19(1), 193. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-018-2517-7
- Petersen, I., Bhana, A., Folb, N., Thornicroft, G., Zani, B., Selohilwe, O., Petrus, R., … & Lund, C. (2018). Collaborative care for the detection and management of depression among adults with hypertension in South Africa: study protocol for the PRIME-SA randomized controlled trial. Trials, 19(1), 192. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-018-2518-6
Chapters in Books
- Petrus, R., Gigaba, S. G., Mntambo, N., Janse van Rensburg, A., & Petersen, I. (2022). Mental health services in communities in South Africa. In M. Visser, J. Akhurst, R. Carolissen & N. Matamela (Eds.), Community Psychology – South African Praxis (pp. 185–199). Van Schaik Publishers.
- Reuben, S., Madlabana-Luthuli, C. Z., & Petrus, R. (2022). The struggle to contain gender-based violence in South Africa. In N. D. Gopal, D. Chetty, D. J. Hlalele & G. Kruger (Eds.), Peace, Safety and Security: African Perspectives (pp. 153–176).
- Madlabana-Luthuli, Z., Reuben, S., & Petrus, R. C. (2022). The impact of globalisation on occupational health and safety in Africa. In N. D. Gopal, D. Chetty, D. J. Hlalele & G. Kruger (Eds.), Peace, Safety and Security: African Perspectives (pp. 107–122).
Community Involvement
- College School Liaison Champion (College of Humanities, 2022–present): supports a Saturday Matric Intervention Programme for learners from quintile 1–4 schools in the Verulam/Redcliffe area and led the area’s first multi-college Career Day
- Lead organiser and academic lead of the UKZN–Dokimos Foundation Community Wellness Day, providing free medical and mental health screening, health advice and psychological consultations to community members in Redcliffe, Verulam
- Organiser and host of a Women’s Day High Tea community engagement initiative celebrating women’s leadership, resilience and wellbeing
- Principal Investigator, SIOC-CDT Training of Registered Counsellors Programme for the Northern Cape (2026–2027), building community mental health workforce capacity in under-resourced settings
- Invited speaker and facilitator of national and international webinars translating research into practice, including for SASOHN, the African Federation for Emergency Medicine, the CSIR, the Resilience Institute, and the Harare Institute of Public Health
- Public scholarship supporting healthcare workers during COVID-19, including the widely circulated pieces ‘Caring for the Caregivers’ and ‘Supporting Healthcare Workers during COVID-19’ (DRILL)
Teaching Expertise
- Academic Leader: Teaching and Learning (2021–present): chairs the School Teaching and Learning Committee and leads curriculum development, pedagogy, assessment and quality assurance across the School
- Undergraduate teaching: PSYC101 and PSYC102 Introduction to Psychology (coordinated and harmonised across three campuses); PSYC207 Industrial Psychology A; PSYC321 Work, Health and Ergonomics
- Postgraduate teaching: Research Methods (PSYC701, PSYC814), Psychological Assessment (PSYC870), and Community Interventions for Professional Practice (PSYC810, PSYC622)
- Curriculum and programme development: HPCSA accreditation of professional psychology programmes; CHE Social Work review; development of a structured IOP undergraduate programme; annual module reviews
- Postgraduate research writing workshops, supervision boot camps, and PhD orientation programmes
- Internal and external examiner for Masters and PhD theses (UKZN, University of Pretoria, University of Cape Town, Rhodes University)
Student Supervision
- PhD: 4 graduated; currently supervising 4 doctoral candidates
- Masters: 8 graduated (coursework and research, spanning Industrial Psychology, Clinical and Counselling Psychology, and Pharmacy); currently supervising 4 candidates
- Honours: 14 research projects successfully supervised (2018–2021)