Covariate | Rationale | Balancing criterion |
---|---|---|
Socioeconomic status (SES), measured by dichotomizing INSE scores into two categories (> 3 vs ≤3) | SES may predict arboviral infection risk | Each arm within ±5% of overall proportion |
Population density | Population density may predict arboviral infection risk | Each arm within ±5% of overall population density |
Number of students in grades 1 and 2 combined | Proxy for age of participants to be enrolled in a given cluster. Age is predictive of individual arboviral infection risk. | Each arm 45–55% of total number |