Urban centers in the social realities of Brazil are characterized by high socioeconomic inequality, bringing to professionals of many areas, including occupational therapists, participation in context of social vulnerability. Thus, the objective was to approach and identify the interventions in occupational therapy in the social field and those in primary health care, in order to verify the proximities and the distinctions of the actions, when performed in contexts of social vulnerability. The research took place in São Carlos, SP, based on the interview of all  the occupational therapists working in selected areas: six occupational therapists in social and five occupational therapists in primary health care. There was also the participant observation of activities of occupational therapists in social and primary health care. In the contexts studied, we observed a significant difference between interventions, even if performed in the same territory because the singularity of each context of social vulnerability leaves marks. It is concluded that there is clear specificities in each field, and it is necessary to identify the differences and objectives of each intervention. Understanding of the practices performed allow to get close to the professional identity and his major contributions that may be executed in different sectors.