Here are two more myths
Myth: “GBS is a sexually transmitted infection.”
Fact: It is not an STI; it is a common bacterium carried naturally by 20–40% of adults.
Myth: “GBS is associated with poor hygiene.”
Fact: GBS carriage is a normal biological variation, not a hygiene issue.
GBS is part of the natural bacterial flora in many people. It is not picked up from dirt, unclean environments, or inadequate washing. It is not a sign of neglect, poor self-care, or unsafe living conditions.
GBS carriage fluctuates over time — people can test positive one month and negative the next — because of normal microbiome changes, not hygiene.
These two myths are especially harmful because they stigmatize parents, especially mothers, by implying blame where none exists. It can make families feel guilty or responsible for something that is purely biological and out of their control. These myths are partly a result of people's ignorance. But they are also propagated deliberately by elements of the wellness industry and by individual social media influencers.
We invite comments and suggestions on how these myths (and those on the GBSI website) can be addressed.
Most of the global efforts around misinformation have been dominated by arguments for debunking and prebunking, and there has been some effort to help ensure that reliable information is more visible (especially the work of WHO with Google and others).
These are all important (especially, in my view, the latter). But we have also noted here on HIFA that both reliable healthcare information and misinformation arise as a consequence of a functioning (or failing) global evidence ecosystem. This is why HIFA's central purpose is to strengthen the global evidence ecosystem: www.hifa.org/ecosystem
Universal access to reliable healthcare information and protection from misinformation can only be achieved by strengthening the global evidence ecosystem. There are no shortcuts.
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org