Parents of students preparing to enter Senior High School (SHS) have been urged to pay close attention to the quality of mattresses their wards will use in boarding schools, as poor-quality mattresses could contribute to posture and spinal problems.
Dr Eric Toxin made the call when he spoke on Ahotor FM’s morning show in Accra on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, during a discussion on preparations for students entering SHS.
He cautioned that students who spend long periods sleeping on substandard or excessively soft mattresses could develop poor sleeping postures, which may have health implications over time.
According to him, some mattresses provided for students do not offer adequate support for the body and spine.
“When they sleep on those mattresses, they begin to develop wrong posture,” Dr Toxin explained.
He noted that when a mattress is too soft, parts of the body, particularly around the waist, can sink into the mattress, forcing the spine into an unhealthy position during sleep.
Dr Toxin therefore advised parents to provide quality mattresses for their children, particularly in situations where the mattresses supplied by schools are not of an acceptable standard.
He said although students may spend only two or three years in Senior High School, prolonged use of an unsuitable mattress could expose them to back and spinal problems.
He also urged parents to properly assess mattresses before purchasing them rather than relying solely on price.
According to him, buyers should test a mattress by sitting or lying on it to determine whether it provides the necessary support and comfort.
Heavy School Bags Also a Concern
Dr Toxin further cautioned parents and school authorities about the weight of school bags carried by students.
He said carrying excessive amounts of textbooks on a daily basis could put unnecessary pressure on the spine and potentially contribute to problems such as disc compression, posture distortion, spinal misalignment and nerve irritation.
He therefore encouraged schools and parents to explore ways of reducing the amount of books students carry in their school bags.
Where possible, he suggested that some textbooks could be kept at school so students would not have to transport all their books between home and school.
Quality Mattress an Investment in Children’s Health
Dr Toxin acknowledged the financial difficulties facing many families but stressed that purchasing a good mattress should be considered an investment in a child’s health.
He argued that while a quality mattress may cost a few hundred Ghana cedis, treating serious spinal problems later in life could be significantly more expensive.
He therefore appealed to parents preparing their children for boarding school to make the quality of their wards’ mattresses a priority.
He stressed that protecting the spinal health of children should not be overlooked as they prepare to spend several years in boarding school.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah — Ahotoronline, Accra.
