This study deals with the relationship between schistosomiasis and urbanization, particularly the urbanization process experienced by cities in dependent capitalist countries, with large groups of people in precarious living conditions. Six hundred and ten notified autochthonous cases in Campinas during the period from 1970 to 1990 are analyzed through notification files with regard to patients socio-economic conditions. Autochthonous cases of schistosomiasis were demonstrated as having a more heterogeneous geographical distribution within the urban area than could be inferred from previous studies that correlate the occurrence of transmission with precarious sanitary conditions.