The Influence of Child Vulnerability Status on Households' Involvement in the Care of OVC in Rongai Sub-County

Abstract: Majority of OVC in Africa including Kenya continues to rely on extended families and kin networks’ households for care. Meanwhile, research indicates that some households are not involved in the care of OVC. However, current research has not shed light on what informs households’ involvement in the care of OVC. This study sought to examine the influence of child vulnerability status on households’ involvement in the care of OVC In Rongai Sub-County. The study was guided by three specific objectives namely; [1] orphans and vulnerable children’s physical disability on households’ involvement in care provision [2] orphans and vulnerable children’s mental disability and households’ involvement in care provision, [3] orphans and vulnerable children’s visual impairment and households’ involvement in care provision and [4] orphans and vulnerable children’s hearing impairment and households’ involvement in care provision in Rongai Sub-County of Nakuru County, Kenya. The study was informed by Attachment and Social Exchange theories. The study was anchored on explanatory sequential design, a type of mixed method research design in which quantitative data is collected first, followed by qualitative data. The study engaged a sample size 221 selected through stratified and purposive sampling methods. Two methods of data collection namely questionnaire and semi-structured interview was employed. Quantitative data was analyzed by use of descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analyzed through thematic analysis method. Results of the study are presented in graphs, tables and quotes. Vulnerability status of OVC that had the greatest influence on households’ involvement in care giving were physical disability and visual impairment. These findings underscore the need for the government to tailor its social assistance programs for OVC to the level of need of vulnerable children and also introduce free specialized healthcare services to vulnerable children so as to lessen the burden of care giving shouldered by households. Findings of the study have broadened existing scholarly knowledge on the role of the informal institutions in care giving to OVC. Keywords: Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Physical Disability, Mental Disability Children, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Households, Involvement. Title: The Influence of Child Vulnerability Status on Households’ Involvement in the Care of OVC in Rongai Sub-County Author: Chris Kibet Koech, Eric K. Bor, Samwel Auya International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online) Vol. 13, Issue 4, October 2025 - December 2025 Page No: 552-561 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 05-December-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17827888 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/the-influence-of-child-vulnerability-status-on-households-involvement-in-the-care-of-ovc-in-rongai-sub-county