The CPIPE Study team at the Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC) in collaboration with the University of California San Francisco and PRONTO International hosted health care providers from health facilities within the sub-region for a 8-day comprehensive workshop on Respectful Maternity Care.
The just-ended Caring for Providers to Improve Patient Experience (CPIPE) workshop brought together healthcare professionals within the Kassena – Nankana Municipality, Bolgatanga Municipality and Bawku District for an intensive training aimed at promoting respectful maternity care and improving patient experiences in healthcare settings. The workshop, held in collaboration with the University of San Francisco California and PRONTO International, focused on equipping healthcare providers with practical skills to enhance compassion, teamwork, and professionalism in maternal and newborn care.
Facilitated by a team of expert trainers, the CPIPE workshop sought to deepen participants’ understanding of Person-Centered Maternity Care (PCMC) and its vital role in improving maternal health outcomes. Participants engaged in hands-on sessions covering a range of key topics including Respectful Maternity Care, stress management, unconscious bias, teamwork, communication, and peer mentorship.
The CPIPE study is an evidence-based initiative designed to enhance the quality of maternity care by addressing the well-being of healthcare providers. Developed by researchers led by Dr. Patience A. Afulani, the CPIPE intervention recognizes that stressed, overworked, or unsupported health workers are more likely to deliver suboptimal and disrespectful care. The study combines stress management, respectful maternity care principles, unconscious bias reduction, and peer support systems as interventions to improve both provider experiences and patient outcomes. Implemented in collaboration with USCF, NHRC and PRONTO International, CPIPE uses interactive training and simulation-based learning to equip healthcare teams with practical skills for compassionate, person-centered care. Through this approach, CPIPE seeks to foster supportive work environments, reduce burnout, and ensure that every woman receives dignified, respectful, and high-quality maternity care, ultimately improving maternal and newborn health outcomes across participating facilities.
The 8-day training followed a detailed step-by-step guide developed by the Principal Investigator, Dr. Patience A. Afulani, with the University of California San Francisco, a team of researchers at NHRC including Dr. Raymond Aborigo, a Senior Health Research Fellow, Ali Moro, a study coordinator, Deborah Ayibasia, a Research Assistant, and healthcare educators from PRONTO International. Over a period of 8 days, participants took part in interactive activities, guided reflections, and high-fidelity simulations designed to mirror real-life healthcare situations. These simulations helped healthcare workers practice effective communication, manage obstetric emergencies, and handle emotionally challenging scenarios with empathy and professionalism.
On the first day, the sessions centered on understanding respectful maternity care, recognizing and managing provider stress and burnout, and exploring how unconscious bias can affect patient interactions. Participants also shared personal experiences and learned mindfulness and self-care techniques to reduce workplace stress and improve emotional resilience.
Other sessions within the subsequent days of the workshop focused on practical applications, including practical simulation exercises designed by PRONTO International that recreated childbirth emergencies. Participants worked in teams to manage simulated cases such as postpartum hemorrhage and neonatal resuscitation while maintaining respectful and supportive care for mothers and their companions. Teamwork activities, such as “Connections” and “Shape-Up,” emphasized communication, coordination, and mutual respect among healthcare workers.
The workshop concluded with a discussion on mentorship and peer support, encouraging participants to sustain the lessons learned and champion respectful, compassionate care in their respective health facilities. Participants also developed personal self-care and action plans to apply the concepts in their daily practice.
The CPIPE program, implemented in partnership with PRONTO International, continues to play a crucial role in supporting healthcare providers through innovative, experiential training methods that foster a culture of empathy, teamwork, and professionalism across health systems.