This article aims at describing and discussing the epidemiology of homicide in São Paulo City with emphasis on its social inequalities. The study used data and the experience of the Program for the Improvement on Mortality Information of São Paulo City (PRO-AIM). The empirical results show that the importance, dimension and trend of the homicides are on the increase in São Paulo City, and bring to light the large social inequalities in all the analyzed aspects based on death certificate variables. The intra-urban space distribution reveals that indicators are high in the periphery and old derelict downtown areas. The differentials were also analyzed in a district with good social conditions. Homicide prevention and control proposals are discussed and emphasis is placed on a broad range project that takes into account the complexity of multiple determinants and the specific dynamics that produce violence in different areas. The article concludes that a project based on social solidarity, equity and democracy can only emerge from the organization of the affected social groups in partnership with militants for the defense of life coming from all fields of action. Epidemiology plays an important role in this process contributing to the monitoring of violence, production of specific knowledge and supplying information to social actors engaged in changing the conditions that produce violence.
violence epidemiology; social inequalities; mortality; homicides; urban segregation