OBJECTIVE: This study presents an analysis of a smoking cessation program implemented by the Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas County. The purpose of this program is to discourage maternal smoking during pregnancy, with the anticipation of promoting a positive birth experience. METHODS: A total of 1144 pregnant women were referred to the program from December 1997 to December 1999. Of those, 626 did not receive smoking cessation services, 177 began but did not continue with the services and 341 remained in the program until giving birth. The women were given the smoking cessation manual "A Pregnant Woman's Self-Help Guide to Quit Smoking" and were provided with individualized counseling sessions. Participants were followed until giving birth. Outcome measures included birthweight, SGA births, prematurity, and the number of cigarettes reported at entry and exit. RESULTS: One-way analysis of variance was used to perform comparisons between each group of subjects, i.e. those that did not receive services, those that entered but did not complete the program, and those that completed the program. The analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in mother's age (p=.021). Significance was further noted in the change in the number of cigarettes smoked (p < .001), the number of cigarettes reported at entry into the program (p < .001), and the number of cigarettes reported at exit (p < .001). This analysis failed to reveal a significant difference for prematurity (p=.228) and the birthweight of the baby (p=.05). There was, however, a significant difference with SGA (p=.016). CONCLUSION: With the exception of SGA, the results of the birth outcome measures presented in this data failed to support the findings of other researchers, who suggest that smoking cessation reduces the rate of low birth weight and premature births. Whereas this data did not provide support for improved birth outcomes, benefits of the intervention was demonstrated with the significance reported in the reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked.