Backgrounds Neurodevelopmental disorders is the failure to achieve proper neurologic functional capabilities. One of the causes of neurodevelopmental disorders is neonatal encephalopathy caused by neonatal asphyxia.

Objectives To define the effect of neonatal encephalopathy caused by neonatal asphyxia on neurodevelopmental disorders.

Methods A prospective cohort study was done to assess neurodevelopmental disorders using Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener. Subjects were 40 babies, including 20 with neonatal encephalopathy caused by neonatal asphyxia and 20 with neonatal asphyxia admitted to the NICU and High Risk Baby Care Unit of the Dr Kariadi Hospital, Semarang, during August 2006–June 2007. Onset of neurodevelopmental disorders was determined by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and the interval between the occurrence of neurodevelopmental disorders and neonatal encephalopathy caused by neonatal asphyxia was assessed by log-rank test, and the level of significance was p<0.05.

Results Neurodevelopmental disorders occurrence between neonatal encephalopathy caused by neonatal asphyxia and control group was significant (p = 0.04). Neonatal encephalopathy caused by neonatal asphyxia is a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders (RR 8.1, 95% CI 0.9 to 75.5). Mean survival time of neurodevelopmental disorders due to neonatal encephalopathy vs control was 5.6 months vs 6 months (p = 0.04). Seizure duration (p<0.001), onset (p = 0.02) and nutritional status (p = 0.002) had a corelation with the occurrence of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Conclusions Neonatal encephalopathy caused by neonatal asphyxia is a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders.