[Development of valorization of physical activity: the role of HIV associations]

With the arrival of triple combination therapy in 1996-1997, HIV infection, considered up until then to be a life-threatening condition, changed statuses within the realm of public health actions Progressively likened to a “chronic illness”, the discourse on HIV prevention targeting people living with HIV (PLHIV) began to evolve. A review of the scientific literature and the journals of four national HIV associations published between 1990 and 2010 shows that physical activities, previously discouraged because considered to be dangerous, have become increasingly presented as a means of improving quality of life and are increasingly recommended for PLHIV. This article studies this reconfiguration of the discourse on HIV prevention, as well as its effects on the discourse conveyed by HIV associations. The article shows how the new classification of HIV as a “chronic illness”, on the basis of scientific expertise, has led to a modified discourse on prevention, including the recommendation of regular and controlled physical activity. This new orientation has contributed to the restructuring of HIV associations which relay this discourse and modify their organization and services, increasingly offering access to physical activities. However, this raises the question of the effects of this new representation of physical activities, as there has been little conside-ration of the difficulties encountered by PLHIV to respond to these repeated encouragements to modify their lifestyles in order to be “good” chronically ill patients. .