SESSION 1 - 5 « Health Inequalities »

The escalating violence is usually accounted for by social inequalities in urban areas. However, the role of slums and their influence on violence in the city still needs studies comprising its multiple determinations. Most of the spatial analysis methodologies aim to evaluate the spatial distribution of homicide occurrence, identifying a posteriori its determinants. In this study, on the contrary, the point of departure is the spatial structure of the city, its favelas and main circulation paths, to assess the effect of these spatial objects in the distribution of violence. This study was based on homicide mortality data in Rio de Janeiro during the period of 2006 to 2009, and sought to answer the following questions: Is there a greater risk in living in favelas and its surroundings? Is this risk dependent on the slums ́ location and their domination by armed groups? Territorial disputes between drug trafficking groups may increase this risk? For this purpose, methods and concepts of geography and ethnography were employed, using the approaches of participant observation, interviews and health secondary data analysis. Inside favelas, homicide mortality rates were equivalent or even lower than the rest of the city. This risk is considerably increased in the favela ́s surroundings, especially in conflagrated areas. The presence of trafficking crews and turf war placed along the city strategic roads and ports, increases homicide rates and promotes the "ecology of danger" in these areas.