This study aimed to identify patterns in the occurrence of homicides considering the characteristics of aggressors, victims and the circumstances that motivated the aggression, according to life condition strata. Life conditions were evaluated according to schooling, income and housing conditions. We used a simple random sample of the deaths by homicides in each stratum of life conditions assessed by cluster analysis. Date sources: death certificates, police reports and police investigations. In stratum A, homicides were more commonly associated with robbery; while in strata B, C and D, homicides were related to traffic and other illegal activities. In stratum E, most of the cases studied were related to fights and disagreements between individuals. Both victims and aggressors were male, young, white or "mixed race", with little schooling, born in São Paulo or in northeastern states, with an occupation in the third sector or unemployed. There was a greater relative frequency of homicides of women in strata A. In this stratum, the majority of victims did not know the aggressors, while in other strata, the link between victim and aggressor involving known relatives, friends or acquaintances prevailed.
Homicide; Violence; Inequalities in health; Social conditions
