Objective　To explore the risk factors for the prognosis of respiratory failure in neonates with gestational age ≥ 34 weeks. Methods　A total of 143 hospitalized neonates with respiratory failure who had gestational age ≥ 34 weeks were enrolled from Jan. 2011 to Jun. 2013. According to the outcome, the neonates were divided into good prognosis group and poor prognosis group. The risk factors for the prognosis of respiratory failure were screened by univariate analysis and multivariate binary logistic regression model. Results　Among the 143 neonates, 105 neonates had good prognosis and 38 neonates had poor prognosis. Univariate analysis showed that the mode of delivery, small for gestational age, 5 minutes Apgar score <7, and with primary disease being pneumonia/sepsis were associated with a poor prognosis. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Furthermore, the multivariate binary logistic regression model showed that, small for gestation age (OR=23.87, 95% CI:3.149 - 180.9) and pneumonia/sepsis (OR=2.996, 95% CI:1.514 - 5.928) were the independent factors of poor prognosis. Conclusions　Small for gestation age and primary diseases being pneumonia/sepsis are the independent factors influencing prognosis of respiratory failure in neonates born at a gestational age ≥ 34 weeks.