[Intra-urban differentials in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, and their potential use in health services planning].

Based on the premise that spatial occupation by the population is a socially constructed process, the present study identified and grouped homogeneous sectors vis-à-vis living conditions in the municipality of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Among socioeconomic variables from the Brazilian national census, the study identified and selected those which best represent the intra-urban differentials in living conditions in Florianópolis. The variables were categorized according to uniformity in the groups and orientation from the literature. Factor correspondence analysis was used for sector grouping. High income, low income, high schooling, illiteracy, and sub-standard garbage collection were the variables used to define grouping. As a result, the authors were able to divide the municipality into four homogeneous groups: two opposite groups having the best and worst schooling and income, and two median groups in which access to public services defines the hierarchical level. The northern and southern regions of Florianópolis were identified as receiving the greatest attention from the city administration. A heterogeneous distribution of households within sectors was identified, whereby Florianópolis was characterized as not presenting large agglomerations of poverty; however, this should not be interpreted as the absence of a poor population in the municipality.