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Objective: To evaluate associations of demographic and socio-economic factors with diet quality among population subgroups in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H).Design: A cross-sectional analysis of 2017 B&H dietary survey data. Diet quality was assessed by the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS) utilizing data from two non-consecutive 24 h diet recalls. Socio-economic variables were extracted from the 2015 B&H Household Budget Survey. Homogeneity of means across population subgroups was evaluated using multivariable regression.Setting: B&H population survey.Participants: A population-based sample of 853 adults.Results: The mean PDQS was 15·8 (range 7-28 out of a possible 42 points). In general, Bosnian adults had low PDQS due to high intakes of refined grains, high-fat dairy and processed meats, and low intakes of whole grains, nuts and fish. The PDQS was significantly higher (P < 0·0001) among older individuals (17·0) compared with those in the youngest group (14·5), among individuals living in the central and northern regions (16·5) compared with those living in the south (15·1; P < 0·0001), and among people who are married/cohabitating (16·1) v. single (14·8; P = 0·02). In energy-adjusted models, socio-economic status (P = 0·04) and tertiles of household spending (P = 0·002) were inversely associated with the PDQS.Conclusions: Diet quality in this population was low. Young and middle-aged individuals, singles and those living in the south had significantly lower quality diets compared with other subgroups. Public health action is needed to promote higher consumption of whole grains, nuts and fish, and a higher variety of fruits and vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National dietary surveillance systems are necessary for monitoring people's intake of foods and nutrients associated with health and disease, and for implementing national and global dietary goals. However, these systems do not exist in many low- and middleincome countries. The development of a model of dietary surveillance for Bosnia and Herzegovina, described here, provides insights into the feasibility and sustainability of dietary surveillance systems in resource-constrained settings and illustrates the challenges involved. In 2016, a year-long dietary survey was initiated in collaboration with the country's Institute for Statistics using a subsample of households that participated in the 2015 national Household Budget Survey. Interviewers collected lifestyle, anthropometric and health data and participants answered two 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires. The survey included a representative sample of 853 participants and was performed efficiently by a small team of highly motivated, well-trained staff. Conducting a high-quality dietary survey was found to be feasible despite constrained resources. In addition, the ability to link dietary intake and regular household survey data provided an effective way of associating dietary variables with socioeconomic determinants of health. This dietary survey, the first conducted by an official institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina, represents an important starting point for building a sustainable nutritional surveillance system for the country. The cost--effective, low-burden approach to dietary surveillance described here could be applied in other low- and middleincome countries, many of which already carry out regular economic surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]