FIGURE 4.

Structural equation modelling of antibiotic exposure in the third trimester and respiratory morbidity in the first year of life mediated by Shannon index for a) any respiratory symptoms as outcome, b) severe respiratory symptoms as outcome. Linear regression (adjusted for birth mode, presence of older siblings, season of swab collection and study centre) was used to test an association between antibiotic exposure in third trimester and α-diversity indices. Negative binominal regression (adjusted for sex, birth mode, weeks of any breastfeeding, season of swab collection, maternal atopy, maternal smoking during pregnancy, presence of older siblings, childcare and study centre) was used to assess the associations with any/severe respiratory symptoms. Adjusted p-value (p_adj-value) was obtained using Benjamini–Hochberg correction for multiple comparisons within group (e.g. direct effect α-diversity measures).