Background: There has been a gradual rise in late preterm infant rates in recent years. Although the late preterm infants have a lower risk compared to smaller preterms, some recent studies have suggested an increased risk of mortality and morbidity in this group compared to term infants. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in a rural medical college hospital. For this study, the gestational age of all infants born alive in our hospital during November 2013 to October 2014 was assessed using the mother’s last menstrual period and the new Ballard test. Our study group consisted of 70 infants selected among infants born late-preterm (34 0/7 -36 6/7 weeks), while 70 consecutively born sex matched term newborns constituted our control group. Newborns with major congenital abnormalities and whose parents did not consent were excluded. The subjects were followed up for 7 days for morbidities and mortality. Results: During the study period there were 1260 total deliveries. Late preterms were more likely to have respiratory morbidity(14.3% vs 2.9%), need of resuscitation at birth (7.1% vs 1.4%), feeding problems (25.7% vs 4.3%), hypoglycemia (4.3% vs 2.9%), and sepsis (14.3% vs 2.9%).Late preterm infants more likely to be readmitted than term infants(7.4% vs 2.9%). Conclusion: Late-preterm newborn infants have higher rate of neonatal morbidities and mortality compared to term controls.