Abstract:
Understanding the magnitude and sociodemographic characteristics of OVC crisis in
sub-Saharan Africa and Kenya can provide foundation for building programmes of appropriate
design and scope. In analyzing services provided to OVC households enrolled on intervention
programmes, in Kisumu County, Kenya, Evaluative and Survey research designs were used to
collect data through questionnaires, focus group discussions, and observation checklist from
384 caregivers. Six Key informant interviews were administered to directors, children officers and
social workers. The study found that OVC households enrolled on both the government and Nongovernment
programmes considered Education to be the most needed OVC service. Shelter
was the least provided service with (0%) respondents enrolled on the government programme
and 49(21.6%) respondents on the NGO programme reporting to have been provided with
shelter. The study recommends that OVC programmes should prioritize shelter for OVC to feel
safe and able to take advantage of other services provided to them.
