Midwifery VR Training Platform for UNFPA
Teaching Life-Saving Skills Through Realistic VR Simulations In partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), DJX Labs designed an immersive VR training platform to prepare midwives for real-world complications during childbirth. Built around India’s national clinical protocols, the simulation enables hands-on practice in a safe, controlled, and hyper-realistic environment—anytime, anywhere.
Challenge :
Midwives across India face high-pressure situations with limited access to advanced training tools. Most traditional methods lack realism and don’t provide actionable feedback.
UNFPA needed a scalable, engaging, and clinically accurate training solution that could:
- Simulate childbirth scenarios in real time
- Reinforce Active Third Stage of Labour Management (ATMSL) protocols
- Enhance confidence in critical decision-making
- Capture learning data at scale
Objectives
- Provide immersive, scenario-based training using VR
- Simulate both standard deliveries and emergency conditions like Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH)
- Enable self-paced learning through step-by-step guided practice
- Integrate real-time performance tracking via backend analytics
Our Approach :
We designed and developed a modular VR simulation system based on GoI-approved clinical guidelines. Each module trained midwives on:
- Birthing scenarios (supine and lateral positions)
- ATMSL procedural steps (from uterotonic drug administration to perineal care)
- Critical ATMSL case scenarios like incomplete placenta, atonic uterus, and trauma
- Live moderation tools for instructors to guide or intervene
Key interaction features:
- First-person PoV with gaze-based navigation for ease of use
- Haptic + physics-based feedback for realistic injection and placenta delivery
- Visual estimations, consent simulations, and immediate care instructions
Technology Stack
- Unity VR development with custom haptic and physics systems
- Hyper-realistic 3D models of mother, baby, and labour room environment
- Assessment dashboard tracking trainee performance by step, accuracy, and time
- Offline-capable deployment for use in rural or low-connectivity regions
Impact
The VR solution was successfully deployed at midwifery training institutes in Punjab and Rajasthan, resulting in:
- Significant improvement in midwife skills and confidence
- A risk-free, repeatable training environment
- Ability to track progress, pinpoint weaknesses, and scale training efforts nationally
