Helping childbirth providers give kinder, safer care
Caring for Providers to Improve Patient Experience (CPIPE) Study
A training and support program for maternity providers to improve care for women giving birth in sub‑Saharan Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11370314 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I'm pregnant and deliver at a participating hospital in sub‑Saharan Africa, this project trains providers with simulation drills that teach respectful, timely care while addressing stress, burnout, and bias. The program adds peer support groups, mentorship, embedded champions on the ward, and engagement from hospital leaders to change routines. Researchers will work with multiple hospitals and track women's experiences, facility delivery rates, and maternal and newborn outcomes before and after the program. The effort focuses on improving care for poorer and otherwise vulnerable women so they get safer, more respectful treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are pregnant women who seek childbirth care at participating hospitals in sub‑Saharan Africa, especially those from low socioeconomic or otherwise vulnerable groups.
Not a fit: Women who do not deliver at participating facilities or whose care problems are driven mainly by lack of supplies or infrastructure rather than provider behavior may not see direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make childbirth in health facilities safer and more respectful and help reduce maternal and newborn complications and deaths.
How similar studies have performed: Some training and mentorship programs have improved clinical skills, but few have explicitly combined person‑centered care, stress reduction, and equity focus, so this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Afulani, Patience a — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Afulani, Patience a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.